Things to see and do North Caribbean

A guided tour of Saint-Pierre not to be missed! Join Fernand Pain, who knows the history of his town and island inside out, as he takes you through a century of Saint-Pierre, the "Little Paris of the West Indies" destroyed in the space of a single night on May 8, 1902, and loses you in the remains of one of mankind's most famous disasters... After taking visitors on board his little train, Fernand has chosen to take them on foot, as close as possible to the last vestiges. The ticket office and tour departure point are in rue Bouille.

The Martinique Zoo is housed in one of the island's oldest dwellings. Founded in 1643, the Latouche dwelling covered an area of 15 hectares. By 1664, sugar was the main product, followed by rum, cocoa, manioc and indigo. When Mount Pelée erupted, most of the buildings were destroyed, but some magnificent remains remain (dwelling house, indigoterie, manioquerie, sugar mill, aqueduct, etc.). In the hands of Jean-Philippe Thoze, creator of the famous Balata garden in Fort-de-France, the Latouche dwelling has been transformed into a unique place, sublimated by beautiful botanical compositions, that absolutely must be visited. Not just to meet the residents, who live in semi-liberty and live out their days in peace: monkeys, jaguars, pumas, lorikeets, anteaters, raccoons, as well as the more insular mongooses, touloulous crabs, turtles, iguanas and, of course, snakes. But above all for its unique atmosphere and its wild nature, skilfully staged by the magician Thoze. A precious testimony to local and subtropical fauna, this exotic bestiary is brought together at the heart of the Latouche dwelling, where visitors can banter and follow a specially-designed educational trail, not only to discover unexpected animals but also to interact with them. In one of the zoo's immersion aviaries, visitors are treated to a singular spectacle as lorikeets come to rest on you and eat out of your hand. These colonial relics, nestled in the hollow of the valley, are now the markers of a whole part of the island's history, made up of an agricultural economy and progressive industrialization. A visit to the zoo reveals the entire dwelling: the main house, of course, and the various farm and business buildings. You'll also note the rich aquatic network, to which the aqueduct and the paddle wheel still bear living witness. At the end of the visit, a large exhibition on piracy will delight visitors of all ages and recall another feature of the island's history: Madinina was home to many freebooters. Both the zoo's layout and facilities have been designed with the animals' well-being and visitors' comfort in mind: when you enter the Latouche dwelling, you're in for a rich journey in what can now be called a new-generation zoo.

Without question one of the most beautiful hikes on the island. It is not difficult, over 2.8 kilometers with an average difference in altitude of 170 meters. Discover rich fauna and flora, historical vestiges… Not to mention the river that you will cross in some places. And the best for the end: a breathtaking waterfall of more than 120 meters high, forming a fine curtain sliding along the rocks and the vegetation. Its access is forbidden in rainy weather because of the river, which makes its fords too dangerous. Count 1h30 in total.

Martinique's oldest museum, founded in 1933 by American volcanologist and philanthropist Frank A. Perret and owned by the city of St. Pierre, was completely renovated in 2019 by the Clement Foundation. This new ultra-modern concrete building houses the remains of the May 8, 1902 eruption. The new burnt wood façade is a sober yet powerful symbol in the heart of the city. The collection presented in the permanent exhibition bears witness to the eruption of Mount Pelee and the destruction of Saint-Pierre in 1902. The tour, organized in three sequences, allows visitors to discover the city on the eve of the eruption, to relive the sequence of events around May 8, 1902 and to understand the consequences of this disaster that killed nearly 30,000 people and wiped Saint-Pierre off the map. The exhibition presents objects bearing the traces of the eruption, photographs and old films on the city around 1902, while audio guides provide visitors with accounts from the inhabitants and survivors. Finally, the memorial lists the 7,000 victims identified to date out of the estimated 28,000 missing. The collection of glassware distorted by the high temperature and two bells show the impact of the fire that hit the city after the fiery cloud. A powerful experience. It is a great introduction to the city and the ruins of Saint-Pierre.

Five kilometers north of Saint-Pierre, a sign indicates the direction to this enormous rock. Legend has it that the valiant Caribbean chiefs preferred to throw themselves off this cliff, after swallowing a violent poison, rather than be enslaved by the French colonists. No one knows if this legend is true, leaving only large engraved rocks that can still be deciphered. Nevertheless, it is here that Native Indian memory is regularly honored by certain independence groups.

Also called Notre-Dame-du-Bon-Port, the cathedral of Saint-Pierre, listed as a historical monument, with its two steeples, dominates the harbor. Built in the 18^th century and remodeled in the middle of the 19^th century, it did not survive the eruption of 1902 and was destroyed. Thanks to the financial support of Victor Depaz, the façade was rebuilt. The stained-glass windows made by the Martinican artist Victor Anicet date from 2006. Renovation work is currently underway.

A visit to the tiny center of Morne-Vert would not be complete without admiring the carved marble tabernacle of the late ^19th-century Saint-Martin church and its breathtaking view of tropical "Little Switzerland". Note the plaque paying tribute to the abbot whose generous donations made it possible to commission the altar (without whom the church would not be completely finished!). On the left, the view of the surrounding area is superb. Take a look inside the presbytery. An unpretentious but charming church.

Also known as the Salle de la Comédie, the theater of Saint-Pierre used to be, during the 18^th century, a famous stage in the West Indies where renowned troupes performed. It hosted the most popular plays of the time such as The Barber of Seville, The Marriage of Figaro and Le Déserteur by Michel-Jean Sedaine. Like the rest of the city, the theater was swept away by the disaster of 1902. Its ruins are now relatively well-preserved and attract many visits. A very nice walk with the Montagne Pelée in the background.

Through its permanent and temporary exhibitions, the center offers in this symbolic place of the memory of the 1902 eruption of Mount Pelee, a tool to discover and better understand the Earth sciences. In a building designed according to innovative earthquake-resistant techniques, it offers exhibitions on current themes, notably concerning major natural hazards. Several films are also shown, including the moving and instructive Volcans des Antilles.

Initially a simple little wooden church, built in 1640 on a stone base in the early days of colonization, it was rebuilt by Father Farganel in 1678, with a beautiful ship's hull frame and a bell tower separated from the central body, on a small paved square. After losing its roof during the cyclone of 1891, it was destroyed by the eruption of 1902. It was then filled with worshipers. Today, only the remains of the church of the Fort remain, but the place is strikingly emotional.

A very dynamic tourist office, managed by director Patricia's bubbly energy. Check its Facebook page to keep posted on the events of the town… because there is always something happening in Le Carbet! Do you want to know about all the good deals in the North Caribbean? Get the information here: seine fishing, sports events, spots with the most beautiful views to impress your friends on Instagram…

From Saint-Pierre, it is reachable by a tunnel, discovering steep ocher cliffs pierced by the cannonballs of English ships in the 19^th century, who thought they were attacking Saint-Pierre. It is here, on this black sand beach, that Gauguin resided from June to October 1887. Few people know it, but this beach is home to beautiful wrecks that are easily accessible because they lie close to the shore in shallow water. Yellow buoys mark them. We get back by going along the sea again, admiring the flight of the pelicans.

Guided tours, accommodation offers, activities… this friendly tourist office will be able to help you with all your research and satisfy your curiosity. Many activities await, such as discovering and participating in seine fishing for a morning, an ancestral fishing technique typical of Martinique that will mark your visit to Bellefontaine. Ask for information: agencies offer initiations.

The main square of the village is dedicated to Gaston Monnerville, son of the mayor of the Pierre Monnerville town, who was in charge of the town from 1876. It is surrounded by a group of well-preserved 19^th and 20^th century buildings. Notice the moldings and the wrought iron balcony of the town hall and the old school where the brothers of Christian instruction taught Ploërmel. In the center, the cast iron and blue ceramic fountain, the color of the municipal coat of arms, is decorated with scallop shells recalling the role played by the Dominicans in the foundation of the parish.

A relic of the architecture of the first settlers, this building is probably older than the village church. It may have been part of a sugar mill in Case-Pilote at the very beginning of the 17^th century. The present private residence mentioned at the end of the 18^th century includes a main house and its outbuildings with stables, a chapel, and even a dungeon. Now classified as a historical monument, the house has undergone major renovations over the past few years, and is still undergoing major renovations that make it impossible to visit.